Catholic Doctrines, Dogmas Online?

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Peregrinans

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Is there one place online that provides clear and concise information about what are the required beliefs, ie:Doctrines, Dogma? Unfortunately, IMO, the CCC is not exactly clear, at least to me, or concise.

For my own edification I can read and decipher this and that, but I am trying to teach my 11 year old son more about the faith. The Catholic School he attends has dropped the ball on his religious instruction, so I am teaching him at home and I do not want to give him incorrect information. I have the Baltimore Catechism and that is better then the current CCC but it is too bare bones, IMO. Is there something in between?
 
 
pianistclare said:
A google search turned up at least 8 sites with lists.
Click to expand...
I’ve done searches and there are a ton of sites that come up talking about Catholic doctrine/dogma. Some are valid, some are anti-Catholic and some are just people’s opinions on said doctrines. etc. I was hoping these forums could help me since there might be people that have done searches like this and they could share the best sources etc., that would be helpful in explaining them to a child.
 
Peregrinans said:
Is there one place online that provides clear and concise information about what are the required beliefs, ie:Doctrines, Dogma? Unfortunately, IMO, the CCC is not exactly clear, at least to me, or concise.

For my own edification I can read and decipher this and that, but I am trying to teach my 11 year old son more about the faith. The Catholic School he attends has dropped the ball on his religious instruction, so I am teaching him at home and I do not want to give him incorrect information. I have the Baltimore Catechism and that is better then the current CCC but it is too bare bones, IMO. Is there something in between?
Click to expand...
Try not to look at the faith in terms of the “required” beliefs. The Church teaches that we should give religious assent even to teachings that aren’t “technically” dogmas anyway. What is required is to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (cf. Matt. 4:4; CCC#892). I could be wrong, but phrasing it that way just sounds like suggesting some of the teachings aren’t worth believing or that some are wrong or something like that.

But still, what you request can be helpful, and I would recommend perusing Denzinger’s Sources of Catholic Dogma or Ludwig Ott’s Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma - just read the subject headings if the content is too complex.
 
Peregrinans said:
Is there one place online that provides clear and concise information about what are the required beliefs, ie:Doctrines, Dogma? Unfortunately, IMO, the CCC is not exactly clear, at least to me, or concise.

For my own edification I can read and decipher this and that, but I am trying to teach my 11 year old son more about the faith. The Catholic School he attends has dropped the ball on his religious instruction, so I am teaching him at home and I do not want to give him incorrect information. I have the Baltimore Catechism and that is better then the current CCC but it is too bare bones, IMO. Is there something in between?
Click to expand...
Frankly, I think the CCC is clearly the best, clearest and most comprehensive catechism.

By the way all dogmas are doctrines but not all doctrines are dogma. However, it actually makes no difference as Catholics are bound by both infallible and non-infallible doctrines.
 
thistle said:
By the way all dogmas are doctrines but not all doctrines are dogma. However, it actually makes no difference as Catholics are bound by both infallible and non-infallible doctrines.
Click to expand...
It does make a difference. Rejecting dogma is heresy, whereas some theological dissent from some non-infallible teachings is licit:
priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/68-11-15humanlifeinourdaynccb.htm

Infallible teachings require the full assent of faith.
Non-infallible teachings require religious assent, not the full assent of faith.

The extent and manner in which we are bound to believe differs between the two types of teachings.
 
There is also a Baltimore Catechism #4 which gives further explanatory notes. I think it was meant primarily for those who were teaching the faith.
catholiccompany.com/baltimore-catechism-4-i615/

Another great resource book for Church doctrines and dogmas is “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma”.
amazon.com/Fundamentals-Catholic-Dogma-Dr-Ludwig/dp/0895550091
(There is a cheaper version - has a white cover - but it is not worth it. The pages start falling out almost immediately. I went thru 2 copies before Tan started publishing this better quality one.)

“Fundamentals …” gives in bold print the doctrine/dogma, usually just one sentence, with the theological certainty in parentheses right after - “De fide” being the highest degree of certainty. Eg.In the beginning of time God created spiritual essences (angels) out of nothing. (De fide)
There will be paragraphs following the bolded doctrine that:
*identify the official Church document/s where it was defined;
*heresies that arose;
*Scripture passages that support the teaching;
*quotes from Early Church fathers that support the teaching.
And all of this in a very concise manner.
There is a very good topical index in the back which makes it easy to locate what you’re looking for.
It’s a great reference book to have on hand.

If you’re looking more for textbooks to give your child, you might want to check out this series.
ignatius.com/promotions/faithandlife/

Do you have a good Catholic bookstore near you? If so, they probably have the above items on their shelves and you can see if they’re the type of thing that would be helpful.

Ooops. I see Marco Polo already recommended “Fundamentals”. Just consider this as seconding his suggestion. 🙂
 
Nita said:
There is also a Baltimore Catechism #4 which gives further explanatory notes. I think it was meant primarily for those who were teaching the faith.
catholiccompany.com/baltimore-catechism-4-i615/

Another great resource book for Church doctrines and dogmas is “Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma”.
amazon.com/Fundamentals-Catholic-Dogma-Dr-Ludwig/dp/0895550091
(There is a cheaper version - has a white cover - but it is not worth it. The pages start falling out almost immediately. I went thru 2 copies before Tan started publishing this better quality one.)

“Fundamentals …” gives in bold print the doctrine/dogma, usually just one sentence, with the theological certainty in parentheses right after - “De fide” being the highest degree of certainty. Eg.In the beginning of time God created spiritual essences (angels) out of nothing. (De fide)
There will be paragraphs following the bolded doctrine that:
*identify the official Church document/s where it was defined;
*heresies that arose;
*Scripture passages that support the teaching;
*quotes from Early Church fathers that support the teaching.
And all of this in a very concise manner.
There is a very good topical index in the back which makes it easy to locate what you’re looking for.
It’s a great reference book to have on hand.

If you’re looking more for textbooks to give your child, you might want to check out this series.
ignatius.com/promotions/faithandlife/

Do you have a good Catholic bookstore near you? If so, they probably have the above items on their shelves and you can see if they’re the type of thing that would be helpful.

Ooops. I see Marco Polo already recommended “Fundamentals”. Just consider this as seconding his suggestion. 🙂
Click to expand...
Thank you Nita. I think I am going to get Baltimore Catechisms 3 and 4 for now. (And perhaps some of the other suggestions for me to study) I am trying to do the method where I am building up my library and trying to get a good understanding myself, then use more age appropriate materials when I am explaining it to him. Bless
 
Ron_Conte said:
It does make a difference. Rejecting dogma is heresy, whereas some theological dissent from some non-infallible teachings is licit:
priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/68-11-15humanlifeinourdaynccb.htm

Infallible teachings require the full assent of faith.
Non-infallible teachings require religious assent, not the full assent of faith.

The extent and manner in which we are bound to believe differs between the two types of teachings.
Click to expand...
I know the difference but it is of little consequence.
Catholics are BOUND BY ALL doctrines whether infallible or non-infallible.
 
Try the Gospel of Mathew, and teach them about Jesus. Teach them where he came from and for what reason. Then all the stories in Mathew. Get them to love Jesus. Then that will give them motivation to listen to what he says illustrated by the Catechisms.

There is nothing more enchanting and interesting than Jesus and what he did and said. Once their hearts and minds are attached to him then the other stuff will be more readily accepted.

Then when they say their prayers, they won’t be just “saying” them but speaking to Jesus, someone they know.

It has been said over and over so many times how many catholics leave their faith because it is nothing but a set of rules and did not have a fundation of understanding Jesus as their center. Catechisms have their place, but it won’t win them over. It has to be Jesus who is the beginning and end…the summit. The more they are drawn to him, the better chance they have of becoming his follower for the right reason. They may drift away later, but that seed of love has been planted in them and they have a good chance of coming back to him again.

Make it Him first last and always, then what that means in terms of loving.
 
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